Anniversary of the September 11 Terrorist Attack

Mass Celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart
at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne,
on Wednesday, 11th September, 2002, at 1.00pm

Introduction

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

A year ago today an unspeakable horror descended upon the world. The barbarism, which brought about the deaths of so many innocent people has cast a shadow upon the lives of people ever since.

In this Mass we pray that the peace willed by Christ for our world will be the basis of all our efforts to reshape the life of our planet.

We remember in humble prayer those who lost their lives, innocently or through misguided evil, their families, and all affected by this horrendous turning point in the story of the world.

That we may be ambassadors of truth, justice and peace, let us call to mind our sins and ask the Lord to guide us on our journey.

Homily

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The whole Church and our society are united today in a wish for peace.

Certainly, a wish and a prayer are vitally important. In her recent address to Spirituality in the Workplace here in Melbourne, Professor Maryanne Glendon quoted the words written by the English poet, W. H. Auden in 1939 at the beginning of the Second World War, “Waves of anger and fear circulate over the bright land obsessing our private lives; the unmentionable odour of death offends the September night.”

Because America would not be drawn into the War for two years, people there believed that the lights must never go out, the music must always play, lest we should see where we are, lost in a haunted wood, children afraid of the night.

Similarly, we must not be afraid to recognise September 11th for what it was. In Auden’s words, “I and the public know what all school children learn, those to whom evil is done do evil in return.” President Bush has not hesitated to use the word evil and has been criticised for doing it, but it is a good thing for us happy-go-lucky, relativistic, non-judgemental Australians to be reminded of what our more biblically grounded forebears knew in their bones, that there is such a thing as evil in the world. But our forebears also knew that it is very dangerous to use the word evil only of others.

I was present when the Pope spoke to young people at Downsview Lands Park, Toronto, on the evening of Saturday, 27th July. He mentioned that the new millennium had opened with two contrasting scenarios. One, the multitude of pilgrims going to Rome proclaiming Jesus Christ as Saviour for the Holy Year. The second, the terrible terrorist attack on New York, an image that is an icon of a world in which hatred and hostility seem to prevail.

The Pope urges all of us to ask the question, “On what foundations must we build the New World emerging from the great transformations of our century? Is it enough to depend on the technological revolution or respond only to productivity and efficiency without any reference to the individual spiritual dimension or to any universally shared ethical values?”

The question will not go away. On what foundation, on what certainty should we build our life? The answer comes resounding back, “Christ alone is the cornerstone on which it is possible solidly to build one’s existence. Only Christ, known, contemplated and loved is the faithful friend who never lets us down and who walks with us at every moment.

Truly, we can say that we have to personally accept the light of glory shining on the face of Christ and to see Him as the one answer to this stupendous question. Christ reminds us, “You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world.”

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.